Applying to Indian School of Business - All you need to know

The article is written by The Bootcamp. The Bootcamp is an education consultancy company by 15 ISB admits and alums, aiming to provide quality services at a very competitive pricing. With a conversation ratio of 90% and re-applicants as well as an applicant with 610 in GMAT, their success stories speak for their infallible process..

In the Financial Times Ranking 2016, Indian School of Business (with campuses at Hyderabad and Mohali) stands at the 29th place among all the B-schools in the world, further emphasizing the fact that we already know- ISB is the place to go if you are looking for a management career in India. A lot has been talked about on and off internet about ISB. The fact that it is just 15 years old and has apparently different eligibility criteria when compared to other Indian B-Schools, further creates confusion and adds to myths and misinformation. This post is intended to debunk those myths, answer some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and help you to take an informed decision while applying to ISB.

Q- How much work experience is required to apply for ISB?

A - None! Yes that's correct. You need to have minimum 2 years of work experience before you can join, but you can apply even when you are in final year or pre-final year of college through YLP (Young Leaders Program). If you are working but have less than 2 years of work experience, you can apply through EEO (Early Entry Option). If you get selected through YLP or EEO, you will be offered a "deferred admission", which means a seat will be reserved for you and you can join once you complete the mandatory requirement of work experience of 2 years.

Q- Which exams one needs to take to apply to ISB?

A- ISB accepts both GMAT and GRE scores. You can apply through any one of these.

Q- What is the cutoff for GMAT & GRE to apply to ISB?

A- ISB has no cutoff scores because applications are evaluated holistically- your GMAT/GRE score is just a part of the entire application. Though it is advisable to score a 720+ in GMAT to stand a better chance.

Q- What all are included in ISB Application?

A- GMAT/GRE Score, 2-4 Essays (The topics of essays might differ every year but they aim to know why you stand out and what are your post-MBA goals), One recommendation (preferably from your current supervisor), details about your work experience (if any), job profile, awards & achievements, extra-curricular and hobbies.

Q- When can one apply to ISB?

A- For every academic year, there are two application cycles- October (with results in December) and January (with results in March). The academic year generally starts from mid-April and is 1 year long.

Apart from these, a candidate is expected to have clarity of thought in terms of career aspirations and goals.

Q- How is a typical ISB interview?

A- Most of the applicants report to have a "chilled out" interview. In most of the cases, it is more of a discussion rather than an interview. Though a few applicants report experiencing a "stress interview" with some grilling. The interview majorly revolves around your job profile, achievements, future aspirations and dissection of everything that you have written in your essays. Hence, proper drafting of the essays remains the most crucial part of the entire application process.

Q- How long does it take to finish the application?

A- Once you have your GMAT/GRE score in your hands, you can keep 20-30 days for the application so that you can give full justice to it. Though the number of days required depends on many factors- your clarity of goals, if you have taken professional help or not, your ability to put your thoughts & aspirations in limited words and so on.

Q- When should one take GMAT/GRE?

A- You are allowed to apply even with the unofficial score report (the one you get immediately after finishing the exam), so you can apply even if you have taken the exam just a day before the application deadline. Though, as mentioned above, it is advisable that you have atleast 20-30 days between the exam and application deadline so that application can be drafted properly.

Q- Who should be an ideal recommendor?

A- An ideal recommendor is your current supervisor (if you are working) or Head of the Institution (if you are in college). ISB sends out the Letter of Recommendation's questions directly to the recommendor that you have chosen, and he/she is supposed to reply with the answers.

Q- On what basis the selected applicants are allotted the campus?

A- Allotment of campus is done by an algorithm in such a way that the average GMAT/GRE score, age, work experience and diversity remains identical at both the campuses. ISB strongly believes in its "One School, Two Campuses" concept and takes every step to remove any kind of bias or disparity between the two campuses.